9/8/09

Anacostia is a historic region located east of the river it is named after. Following the construction of the Anascostia freeway and the postwar flight of whites to suburban areas, Anacostia underwent a transformation. From then on, the neighborhood changed into the predominantly black district it is now.

Although the crime rate in Anacostia has fallen from its peak in the 1990s, many Washingtonians still consider Anacostia "the most dangerous neighborhood in DC." But for bikers looking for an interesting bike route looping through Virginia, south Maryland, and DC, Anacostia's beauty cannot be overlooked.

(Part of Anacostia's renaissance was the revilitization of previously neglected housing, which turned many aspiring homeowners' dreams into reality. As a resident of Anacostia, I am a daily witness to the promise the up-and-coming neighborhood exudes and disappointedly, the bad rep it receives from other Washingtonians.)